ClassNK Grants Autonomous Notation to Japanese Container Ship, Marking a Milestone in Maritime Technology
ClassNK, a prominent classification society, has awarded its 'AUTO-Nav2(All)' notation to the Japanese domestic liner container ship Genbu. This ship is the first newly constructed autonomous vessel under the MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Program by The Nippon Foundation. The notation signifies that the ship is equipped with an autonomous navigation system approved by ClassNK, marking the first instance of such a notation being assigned to a vessel operating on medium- to long-distance coastal routes. The Genbu was constructed by Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation, with ship management by IKOUS Corporation and operations conducted by Suzuyo Marine. ClassNK has also released guidelines for the automated and autonomous operation of ships, developed from various demonstration projects, which outline the requirements for design, installation, and maintenance of these technologies. 
